FCA, contacted by AFP, did not immediately confirm the appointment of Manley to fill the shoes of Marchionne, 66, who took over Italian carmaker Fiat in 2004 and who had already planned to step down next year.

The sub-4 metre SUV will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport, whereas the three row SUV will sit above the existing Jeep Compass and may take on the likes of Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.

US President Donald Trump convened the world's most important auto executives at the White House Friday to review plans to roll back fuel emissions standards and press for increased production in America.

According to Autodata, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales for April hit 17.15 million units compared with 17.04 million a year ago. That was in line with an April SAAR of 17.1 million units expected by analysts polled by Reuters.

According to Autodata, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales for April hit 17.15 million units compared with 17.04 million a year ago. That was in line with an April SAAR of 17.1 million units expected by analysts polled by Reuters.

Most Britons buy a new car using a Personal Contract Plan, which typically allows them to make monthly payments over three years and then trade in for a new model, with their old vehicle going onto the used market.

The auto industry executives and economists predicted at the Detroit Auto Show that overall car and light truck sales will fall to about 16.8 million vehicles this year from about 17.2 million vehicles in 2017.